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(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 5/1/2014) – The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to clarify comments on Islam he made on the floor of the U.S. Senate yesterday.

In those remarks, Inhofe appeared to claim that Islam infringes on America’s Judeo-Christian values and that George Washington made it clear that the Christian God was responsible for the creation of the United States.

In a letter sent to Inhofe today, CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani wrote in part:

“We are writing to address your April 20, 2014, remarks on the Senate floor that seem to indicate that you believe Islam does not support Judeo-Christian values. We are seeking clarification of your remarks and their implications for American Muslims, particularly the growing Oklahoma Muslim population. Islam is a part of the rich Abrahamic tradition and does not in any way suppress Judeo-Christian values in our country. Furthermore, we do not believe your views represent the views of most Oklahomans.

“As an elected official, you represent the diversity of Oklahoma, which includes adherents of the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In recent years we have seen the growth in cooperation among Abrahamic faiths in our state and country, and we fear that your remarks set us back as we seek to increase cooperation between faiths.

“Your remarks regarding our nation’s founding are also troubling, as our nation was founded on the understanding that America would be home to those of various religious backgrounds. Professor Denise Spellberg writes in her recent publication that our founding fathers intentionally included the concept of religious pluralism when planning for our country’s future: ‘It strikes me that [Thomas] Jefferson was theorizing for a future that included Muslims — not in spite of their religion, but because of it and because of his notion of universal civil rights.’”